National Restaurant Association

The National Restaurant Association (NRA) is the largest U.S. trade association for the restaurant industry. In an industry that has 945,000 restaurants and 13.1 million employees, the association represents over 380,000 restaurants. Members also include food suppliers and distributors. The association itself is a member of the International Hotel & Restaurant Association which represents over 8 million restaurants and 300,000 hotels in over 150 countries worldwide.

Opposition to Nutrition Labeling
On a typical day, 130 million Americans eat outside the home, spending $1.5 billion in food that is often high in what many Americans should be eating less of--saturated fats, trans fat, salt and calories. Unlike packaged foods which are required to display a "Nutrition Facts" label, restaurants are under no similar legal obligation. The National Restaurant Association has fought the numerous efforts to introduce calorie and fat content labeling on restaurant menus, defeating thirteen nutrition-labeling bills introduced in eleven states and two cities (Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia).

The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) has found that nutrition labeling works: three-quarters of adults reported using food labels and almost half reported that the information on food labels changed their mind about buying a particular product. CSPI has also found that restaurants commonly serve portions two to three times bigger than what is considered standard serving size. Children eat almost twice as many calories in a restaurant meal as when they eat at home. To deflect blame, the NRA's issue brief on menu labeling explains that rather than focusing on labeling, we need to focus on educating Americans on a healthy diet and exercise.

Industry Shield Laws
The National Restaurant Association has been a key player convincing willing legislators to sponsor legislation to protect industry. The NRA website tracks legislative progress in each state on a page titled "State Frivolous-Lawsuit Legislation," and offers an entire "Obesity Issue Kit" that inclides model legislation, op-ed articles, talking points and other resources designed to assist states in passing legislation and to shield the industry from liability.

Positions
Minimum wage increase:

"The National Restaurant Association strongly opposes government mandated increases in the starting wage. A dramatic increase in labor costs in a recovering economy will mean fewer jobs for entry-level workers, especially in labor-intensive industries such as restaurants."

Estate tax repeal:

"The estate tax punishes businesses for being successful and creates disincentives for expansion and job creation. The permanent repeal of the estate tax will allow restaurateurs to spend their valuable resources on growing their businesses and creating jobs."

President Bush discusses global war on terror
At the invitation of the National Restaurant Association, President George W. Bush spoke in May 2006, before the group at the McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois. Bush did the typical praising of the home baseball team and praising Chicago Mayor Daley, and then talked some about immigration, but mostly Bush talked about the subjects of Iraq and terrorism.

Political contributions
National Restaurant Association gave $1,545,296 to federal candidates in the 2006 U.S. election through its political action committee - 12% to Democrats and 87% to Republicans.

Lobbying
National Restaurant Association spent $2,300,000 for lobbying in 2006. The lobbying firms BKSH & Associates and Shook, Hardy and Bacon were used as well as the lobby group Alliance for American Advertising.

"What we do"
What they do in their own words, 'Restaurants need a powerful voice before Congress and federal regulatory agencies because Uncle Sam's long arm reaches into every facet of the $537 billion restaurant business. The National Restaurant Association — ranked among the "Power 25" lobbying organization[s] by Fortune magazine — promotes a pro-restaurant agenda on critical restaurant issues like the minimum wage, food safety, and IRS tip audits.'

Public relations
National Restaurant Association operates the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF), which is set up as the 'educational arm' of the main Association.

Personnel
Association leadership:
 * Richard E. Rivera, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Also a Principal at Rubicon Enterprises LLC
 * Michael S. Kaufman, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, Former President of Dallas-based Metromedia Restaurant Group, which operates the Bennigan’s Steak and Ale, Bonanza and Ponderosa brands
 * Michael Gibbons, Treasurer, Also CEO of Mainstreet Ventures Inc. which has diverse restaurant concepts operating in Michigan, Florida, Ohio, and West Virginia
 * Dawn Sweeney, Chief Executive Officer, Former CEO of AARP Services, the wholly owned taxable subsidiary of AARP

Contact details
1200 17th Street, NW Washington, DC 20036 Phone: 202-331-5900 Fax: 202-331-2429 Web: http://www.restaurant.org

SourceWatch resources

 * Alliance for Energy and Economic Growth
 * Best Food Nation
 * Center for Food Integrity
 * Chew on This: Everything You Don't Want to Know About Fast Food
 * Fast Food Nation
 * The Food Industry Campaign to Undermine 'Chew On This'
 * Meat & Dairy industry
 * U.S. Government's War on Animals

Articles

 * Michele Simon, "Food Giants on the Run", CorpWatch, March 21, 2005.